WSYM-TV

The Lansing–Jackson television market was dominated by two major commercial VHF stations, WJIM-TV (now WLNS-TV) on channel 6 and WILX-TV (channel 10), since the latter station began in 1959. In the late 1970s, interest emerged in activating a third local station on a UHF channel: channel 36, then allocated to Lansing. Three applicants had already filed for the channel by 1979. Benko Broadcasting was owned by two brothers, one of whom was a judge in Sanilac County; Kare-Kim Broadcasting Corporation, whose primary stakeholder, Donald Haney, was a television personality in Detroit; and F&S Comm/News was primarily owned by former Lansing city councilman Joel Ferguson and business partner Sol Steadman. Three additional shareholders owned one percent apiece, which with Ferguson's stake made the company 51.5% Black-owned: businessman Greg Eaton and former Michigan State Spartans men's basketball players Greg Kelser and Earvin "Magic" Johnson.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-3-groups-vie-for-n/157513674/|date=August 18, 1979|pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-channel-36-off-gro/157513697/ A-7]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=3 groups vie for new Lansing TV station|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}

On August 4, 1980, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a ruling that complicated the picture for the channel 36 applicants. It changed the channel allocation from 36 to 47 as part of changes in five Michigan and Ohio cities, necessary to conform with a new Canadian table of allocations for UHF channels. This was not a trivial change for the Lansing applicants, as channel 47 was short-spaced with location restrictions. These restrictions, to channel 62 in Detroit, had led the FCC in 1967 to allot channel 36 instead of 47 at Lansing.{{Cite web|url=https://archives.federalregister.gov/issue_slice/1967/4/19/6137-6142.pdf|title=Television Broadcast Channels; Short-Spaced Assignment, Lansing, Mich.|work=Federal Register|date=April 19, 1967|page=6142|author=Federal Communications Commission}} In restoring channel 47 to Lansing, the FCC gave the existing applicants from the channel 36 case the opportunity to keep the short-spaced channel or specify Lansing's other UHF channel, channel 53.{{Cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1980-08-06/pdf/FR-1980-08-06.pdf|title=TV Broadcast Stations In Lansing and Saginaw, Mich.; Newark, Sandusky, and Toledo, Ohio; Changes Made in Table of Assignments|work=Federal Register|date=August 6, 1980|page=6142|author=Federal Communications Commission}} Benko and Kare-Kim opted for channel 53, and the FCC declared a comparative hearing for their applications in May 1981.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-public-notice/157443782/|date=June 1, 1981|page=C4|title=Public Notice|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} F&S Comm/News was the only applicant who selected channel 47 and was awarded a construction permit on December 10, 1981.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-fcc-oks-new-lansin/157592474/|date=December 15, 1981|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-3rd-tv-station-ok/157592567/ 3A]|title=FCC OKs new Lansing TV station|first=Mike|last=Hughes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}

By the time F&S Comm/News obtained the channel 47 construction permit, the company was already making its mark in local television, particularly around Michigan State Spartans athletics. It produced and syndicated the MSU football coaches' show featuring head coach Muddy Waters, and in September 1980, the firm won the bidding to produce Michigan State men's basketball telecasts, which it then syndicated to WILX-TV and other Michigan TV stations.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wilx-snatches-msu/157592327/|date=September 25, 1980|page=B-3|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WILX snatches MSU basketball games|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} The station set up studios in the Capitol Commons office park, developed by Ferguson and Steadman, on the edge of downtown Lansing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-new-tv-station-dou/157977909/|date=July 11, 1982|page=3B|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=New TV station doubles staff... to two|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} An estimated $6 million was spend on equipment, office space, and programming.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-tv-stations-set-t/157592680/|date=November 25, 1982|page=1D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=TV station's set to launch giant gamble|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

{{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=350|frame-align=right|frame-height=300|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/WSYM-TV}}|text=Grade A signal contours for WSYM-TV, WLAJ, WJRT, WUHQ (now WOTV) and WXYZ-TV, {{circa|1998}}. WSYM-TV's analog signal (green) overlapped with ABC affiliates WJRT to the northeast, WUHQ to the west, and WXYZ-TV to the east, preventing WSYM from affiliating with ABC. WLAJ's analog signal (blue) was intentionally engineered to not interfere with these stations, and became Lansing's ABC affiliate.}}

Channel 47 began broadcasting December 1, 1982, as WFSL-TV, an independent station with a schedule dominated by movies as well as the MSU basketball package.{{r|Lans821118}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wfsl-opens-old-mov/157592756/|date=December 2, 1982|page=2D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WFSL opens old movie blitz|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} The lack of network affiliation came as something of a surprise to local observers. One of the reasons channel 36 had initially attracted interest prior to 1980 was the prospect of bringing an ABC affiliate to Lansing. At the time, Lansing was the largest market in the country without an in-market ABC affiliate.{{r|Lans790818}} WJRT-TV in Flint was the primary source of ABC programming in Lansing; other parts of the market could watch ABC over-the-air on WUHQ in Battle Creek or WXYZ-TV from Detroit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-area-tv-fans-get-b/157513525/|date=August 17, 1975|page=Welcome to Lansing 93|title=Area TV Fans Get Broad Network Range|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} However, cable was often necessary to get a good ABC signal, particularly in Jackson.{{r|Lans900306|JCP900525}} Knowing this, Ferguson and Steadman made numerous overtures for an ABC affiliation in the lead-up to WFSL's launch. However, ABC turned them all down {{r|Lans820711}} due to significant signal overlaps with WXYZ-TV (which ABC owned at the time), WJRT,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-new-tv-era-ready-t/157593163/|date=November 18, 1982|page=1D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=New TV era ready to open on local tubes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} and especially WUHQ-TV.{{r|JCP900525}} When the construction permit for channel 47 was awarded, the FCC dismissed a protest by WUHQ-TV, which sought to establish translators in Jackson and Lansing.{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/tv-stations-lock-horns-over-signal/ynjzypxplchajmucjzocxthyptogihtj_ip-10-166-46-114_1729462894432|pages=A-1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/signal/rbvqpdauyrapilmsmogqmdauveybikou_ip-10-166-46-108_1729462801205 A-2]|first=Dan|last=Spickler|title=TV stations lock horns over signal|date=December 18, 1981|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot}}

WFSL-TV's first months on air were lean. The station laid off a third of its 50-person staff before conditions improved. Tom Jones, WFSL-TV's general manager, blamed its struggles on jitters that local and regional advertisers had about independents after seeing WWMA-TV in Grand Rapids miss its planned starting date by nine months and reservations about committing a Christmas advertising budget to an unproven station that might not be on in time for the holidays and, in any event, had no ratings survey for four months to show a proven audience. This began to turn after basketball season, which served as a promotional vehicle for the new channel 47 and its programs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-outlook-brighter-f/157513762/|date=September 4, 1983|page=1E|first=James E.|last=Mallory|title=Outlook brighter for new TV kid|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

On August 7, 1984, Ferguson and Steadman announced the sale of WFSL-TV to The Journal Company, a Milwaukee-based broadcaster that owned two other TV stations and The Milwaukee Journal newspaper, for $9 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wfsl-sold-to-firm/157592941/|date=August 7, 1984|pages= 1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-ferguson-may-enter/157592966/ 2A]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WFSL sold to firm in Milwaukee|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} The deal, finalized at the end of 1984, represented a tripling of an investment of about $3 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wfsl-change-is-nea/157592992/|date=December 20, 1984|page=1D|title=WFSL change is near|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} Journal overhauled the station's programming, emphasizing syndicated material over movies,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wfsl-makes-drastic/157978253/|date=January 19, 1985|page=8S|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WFSL makes drastic shift|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} and changed the station's call sign to WSYM-TV—"We Said Yes to Michigan"—on March 11, 1985.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-good-afternoon/157472900/|date=March 11, 1985|page=4A|title=Good Afternoon...|type=Advertisement|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} The new call sign referenced the slogan "Say Yes to Michigan",{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-changing-times/157592857/|date=May 8, 1985|page=4B|title=Changing times|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} which the state used for economic development and tourism between 1981 and 1997.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-muskegon-chronicle-yes-to-michigan/157602576/|date=December 2, 1981|page=7B|agency=Associated Press|title='Yes to Michigan' campaign to start|newspaper=The Muskegon Chronicle|location=Muskegon, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-michigan-adopts-a/157602657/|date=March 28, 1997|page=2C|first=Kathy|last=Barks Hoffman|agency=Associated Press|title=Michigan adopts a new slogan|newspaper=Battle Creek Enquirer|location=Battle Creek, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

Journal made a second attempt at courting ABC. The company already owned an ABC affiliate, KTNV-TV in Las Vegas.{{r|Lans840807}} The station held talks with ABC in 1985,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-abc-affiliate-ahea/157513813/|date=April 4, 1985|page=1D|title=ABC affiliate ahead?|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} but ABC—again attempting to avoid upsetting its other affiliates—opted against affiliating.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-people-abc-says-n/157513898/|date=November 13, 1985|page=1C|title=People: ABC says no to Lansing|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} Channel 47 passed up on the Fox network when it launched in 1986{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-of-local-interest/157978347/|date=October 5, 1986|page=TVweek 3|title=Of Local Interest|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} and declined to join the Detroit Pistons television network, with general manager Dale Parker reasoning that half of local viewers already got Fox affiliate WKBD-TV in Detroit on cable and thus the Pistons. Only upon Parker's departure in late 1988 did WSYM-TV begin to air the Pistons.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-channel-47-shuffle/157978328/|date=December 14, 1988|page=2D|title=Channel 47 shuffles schedule|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-channel-47-finally/157978288/|date=April 28, 1989|page=39|title=Channel 47 finally teams up with Pistons for play-off fun|first=Mike|last=Hughes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

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| quote = When I owned WSYM, we had a powerful signal. When I went to buy a station in Las Vegas, I realized I didn't need all that powerful stuff. Once the signal was out of the city, all there was was desert, anyway. So when I designed WLAJ, I cut the signal down to just the areas we are targeting. It will miss Battle Creek entirely.

| author = Joel Ferguson{{r|JCP900525}}

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WSYM-TV was still an independent station when, in 1989, Joel Ferguson agreed to buy the channel 53 permit from Benko.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-lansing-developer/157443944/|date=March 31, 1989|page=1D|title=Lansing developer turns on the power to launch TV station|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} The reactivation of plans for channel 53 immediately started to unblock the ABC logjam. Neither ABC nor Fox had an affiliate in the Lansing market, and ABC was seen to be in the driver's seat with a choice of possible affiliates (WSYM or WLAJ).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-new-abc-fox-affil/157444107/|date=September 13, 1989|page=1D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=New ABC, Fox affiliates may shake up local television|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} The FCC granted final approval for the WLAJ sale in March 1990,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-lansings-getting/157444231/|date=March 6, 1990|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-tv/157444202/ 2A]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=Lansing's getting a new TV station|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}} leaving ABC with the decision between WSYM and WLAJ as its local affiliate.{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/abc-tv-affiliate-coming-area/hmfsfkqcrwzytxjjnbefkjtthtwiprcb_ip-10-166-46-73_1729463072929|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|pages=A-1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/abc/jxrunmxbtutpsvvnjjnmevivfaaimfzq_ip-10-166-46-173_1729463156384 A-2]|first=Dave|last=Hoger|date=March 6, 1990|title=ABC-TV affiliate coming to area}} In a bid to court the network, Ferguson redesigned WLAJ's signal pattern to protect WJRT and WUHQ;{{r|Lans900306}} this was successful, and on May 23, 1990, ABC awarded the Lansing affiliation to WLAJ.{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wlaj-tv-easy-abc-jackson/buuzuxbyvjxulejbqarhytnucnwalwmd_ip-10-166-46-169_1729463269892|pages=A-1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wlaj/mrnoeuafgzfrhoayefwgzhjyzfygivss_ip-10-166-46-102_1729463328494 A-2]|title=WLAJ-TV easy as ABC for Jackson|first=Dave|last=Hoger|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|date=May 25, 1990}} This eliminated the primary reason WSYM had held out on network affiliation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-sly-fox-slides-int/157444577/|date=September 15, 1990|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-fox/157444527/ 6D]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=Sly Fox slides into fall season|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} In response, WSYM-TV joined Fox on September 16, 1990.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-channel-47-catches/157602369/|date=August 21, 1990|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-fox/157602378/ 5D]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=Channel 47 catches Fox, 'Simpsons'|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} It continued to air the Pistons until 1993, when new general manager Judy Kenney dropped the team to give priority to Fox programming.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-new-tonight-hoops/157978483/|date=December 2, 1993|page=5E|title=New tonight: Hoops on 53, pledges on 23|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

Over the course of the 1990s, Fox encouraged its stations to begin airing or producing local newscasts. Kenney had been sent to Lansing in 1993 under orders from Journal to develop a news department, but she reached the conclusion that the time was not right.{{r|Lans970908}} That changed in 1997, when WSYM-TV committed to airing a 10 p.m. newscast, originally envisioned as an hourlong report.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-two-local-news-sho/157978516/|date=February 27, 1997|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-shows-two-station/157978512/ 3B]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=Two local news shows in works|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} Fox 47 News debuted on September 8, 1997, with a half-hour newscast at 10 p.m. and an 11 p.m. edition added two weeks later.{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/fox-47-airs-news-10/pvsgrwonlfqugskpgaeclmxnyhnddavf_ip-10-166-46-163_1729464201033|page=A3|first=Dave|last=Hoger|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|title=Fox 47 airs news at 10|date=September 8, 1997}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-tvs-new-faces/84705763/|date=September 8, 1997|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-news-lansing-gets/157978605/ 7D]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=TV's new faces|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} The latter was gone by February 1998.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-how-do-local-tv-st/157978675/|date=April 4, 1998|page=5D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=How do local TV stations stack up?|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

The in-house news department never gained the traction that management desired. In 2000, the station experimented with an hourlong 10 p.m. newscast but soon reverted, only to return to a full hour at 10 in 2002. The next year, the station debuted a newscast at 5 p.m. and then moved it to 5:30 p.m. to counterprogram WLNS-TV and WILX-TV.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-stations-position/157978660/|date=September 16, 2002|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-ratings-wsym-seek/157978650/ 5D]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=Stations position local TV lineups: WSYM gives its news hour another chance|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

Beginning August 30, 2004, the production of WSYM-TV's 5:30 and 10 p.m. newscasts was outsourced to WILX-TV, though the news on channel 47 retained a partially separate anchor team for news and weather and came from a different set.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wilx-to-produce-ne/139873994/|date=July 13, 2004|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-tv-news-stations/139874000/ 2B]|title=WILX to produce news for Fox rival: Channel 10 to gather stories for WSYM-TV|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-tv-news-staffs-joi/139938586/|date=August 30, 2004|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-tv-stations-will/139938566/ 6D]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=TV news staffs join forces for first 'cast: Channels 10, 47 begin studio merger today|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} WSYM's 23 newsroom employees lost their jobs, though 10 positions were created at WILX-TV to handle the enlarged operation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-close-quarters/84706144/|date=September 1, 2004|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-news-stations-sha/157978765/ 4D]|title=Close Quarters: WSYM, WILX kick off first week of reports done in the same studio|first=Mike|last=Hughes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} These remained the only local newscasts on WSYM-TV until 2015, when a two-hour extension of WILX-TV's morning newscast began airing from 7 to 9 a.m.;{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-local-tv-stations/157978887/|date=October 5, 2015|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-stations/157978901/ 3D]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=Local TV stations expand footprint for news|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}} this replaced a television simulcast of Michigan's Big Show, a talk radio program hosted by Michael Patrick Shiels.{{cite news|title=New in town: Fox 47 Morning News at 7|date=October 7, 2015|first=Allan I.|last=Ross|url=https://www.lansingcitypulse.com/stories/new-in-town,4618|work=Lansing City Pulse}} WILX-TV debuted its own 5:30 p.m. newscast in 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-local-tv-news-expa/157978916/|date=October 1, 2018|page=4D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=Local TV news expands to 90 minutes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

In 2014, WSYM began operating MyNetworkTV outlet WHTV through a local marketing agreement, replacing WLNS-TV as the service partner.{{Cite web |url=http://www.jrn.com/fox47news/news/sports/New-Brand-Coming-to-FOX-47-Partner-Station-My18-Launching-this-September-269377541.html |title=New Brand Coming to FOX 47's Partner Station My 18 this September - FOX 47 News |access-date=August 23, 2014 |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114406/http://www.jrn.com/fox47news/news/sports/New-Brand-Coming-to-FOX-47-Partner-Station-My18-Launching-this-September-269377541.html |url-status=dead }} WHTV left the air in 2017, with much of its programming moving to a subchannel of WSYM.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-local-stations-gra/157978857/|date=September 18, 2017|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-television/157978866/ 2D]|title=Local stations grapple for slots to make a mark|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 28, 2024}}

On April 1, 2015, the E. W. Scripps Company completed the simultaneous acquisition of Journal Communications, retaining the television properties while spinning off both firms' newspaper holdings.{{Cite news|date=April 1, 2015|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/scripps-completes-journal-merger-spinoff/|title=Scripps Completes Journal Merger, Spinoff|work=TVNewsCheck}} Scripps announced on October 8, 2020, that WSYM would reinstate its news department on January 1, 2021, ending its news share agreement with WILX.{{cite press release |last=Wethington |first=Kari |date=October 8, 2020 |title=Scripps station expands news operations |url=https://scripps.com/press-releases/scripps-station-expands-news-operations/ |publisher=The E. W. Scripps Company |access-date=October 26, 2020}} The new news department, structured around a neighborhood reporting model, had an initial staff of 15 reporters, editors, and producers.{{cite news|url=https://www.lansingcitypulse.com/stories/new-fox-47-team-focuses-on-neighborhood-reporting,16377|first=Skyler|last=Ashley|title=New FOX 47 team focuses on neighborhood reporting|date=March 25, 2021|work=Lansing City Pulse}}

• Ahmed Fareed – sports anchor (2003–2004){{cite web|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/article/ahmed-fareed-joins-comcast-sportsnet-bay-area|title=Ahmed Fareed joins Comcast SportsNet Bay Area|last=Dela Cruz|first=Jay|date=January 8, 2013|publisher=Comcast SportsNet Bay Area|access-date=September 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528012821/http://www.csnbayarea.com/article/ahmed-fareed-joins-comcast-sportsnet-bay-area|archive-date=May 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}

The station's signal is multiplexed:

WSYM-TV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 47, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 38{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2013|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |access-date=March 24, 2023 |format=PDF}} until January 17, 2020, when it relocated to channel 28 as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction.{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=Federal Communications Commission|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

{{Lansing TV}}

{{Grand Rapids TV}}

{{FOX Michigan}}

{{EWS CORP}}

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Category:1982 establishments in Michigan

Category:Bounce TV affiliates

Category:Court TV affiliates

Category:E. W. Scripps Company television stations

Category:Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates

Category:Grit (TV network) affiliates

Category:Ion Mystery affiliates

Category:Laff (TV network) affiliates

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1982

SYM-TV